FOR CENTURIES, Christians
have recognized Islam as a false religion. Until recently Muslims (or
Mohammadans as they have been known in the past) have been the focus of
evangelistic outreaches. But today many people are considering Islam from a more
ecumenical point of view. It is often said that Christians, Jews, and Muslims
are worshipping the same God, but in different ways. Muslims have capitalized on
this misconception and now urge Christians and Jews to worship the one God with
them, and work together for solutions to the world's manysocialproblems. It isimportant to know some of the history and false
doctrines of Islam, and to reject the new approach of this fast growing
religion.

Islam began about 600 A.D. in
what is modern Saudi Arabia. Muhammad, the "prophet" of Islam, received what is
purported to be a revelation from God. This revelation is known as the Qur'an,
the holy book of Islam. From its dubious beginnings, Islam has grown to
approximately a billion adherents worldwide. For centuries Islam has exerted a
great deal of influence over the people of the Middle East and Africa, even
dominating southern Europe for a time. Today Islam is endeavoring once again to
have a significant influence upon the culture and society of the Western
World.

The new image Islam is trying
to present in the West is a far cry from the fanaticism and violence advocated
by many Muslim leaders. Nevertheless, the devotion of Muslims in the West to
Islamic principles is as uncompromising as any in the world. The presentation of
Islam in Europe and North America is characterized by intellectualism rather
than emotionalism. The irrational religious frenzy by which Islam has become
recognized worldwide is covered by a facade of civility. Yet, Muslims around the
world concur that Islamic laws and principles take precedence over the decency
and morality of civilization.

No matter how intellectual,
civilized, or scientific Islam is made to appear, it is still a religion which
embodies "anothergospel.- whichisnotanother" (Gal. 1:6-7). The Lord declares it accursed (Gal. 1:8).
Christians must be prepared to present the one true Gospel of salvation to
Muslims, desiring that they be delivered from their religious
bondage.

The most important thing for
Christians to know when confronted with the teachings of a false religion is the
Truth. It cannot be too forcefully stated that Christians must know the
Scriptures. In evangelism, therefore, we must know the
Evangel.

Our message to Muslims is that
they, like all men, are lost. All are naturally at enmity with God (Ps.14:2-3;
Jn. 3:36b; Eph. 2:1-3). There is no good in us that can merit God's favor and
there is no good we can do to endear ourselves to Him (Isa. 64:6; Rom. 3:12,
19-20; Titus 3:5). But, being lost and unable to effect our own salvation, God
did all that is required to reconcile men to Himself. Christ bore our sin, died
on the Cross shedding His Blood as a completely propitious sacrifice for sin,
and He rose again bodily from the dead. Believing this testimony and wholly
trusting Jesus Christ for salvation is all that is necessary to be saved (1 Cor.
15:1-41, Rom. 5: 1, 6-9; Col. 1:12-22; 2 Cor. 5:18-21).

The "gospel" of Islam is
something quite different. Similar to many modern cults, Islam claims to revere
the writings of all the prophets. Yet, Muslims unequivocally subjugate the
Scriptures to the "prophecy" of Muhammad.

A leaflet prepared by the
Institute of Islamic Information and Education titled "Introducing Islamto Non-Muslims" states, "Muhammad is the very last Prophet of God to
mankind. He is the final Messenger of God. His message was and is still to the
Christians, the Jews and the rest of mankind. He was sent to those religious
people to inform them about the true mission of Jesus, Moses, David, Jacob,
Isaac, and Abraham."

The leaflet continues,
"Muhammad is considered to be the summation and the culmination of all the
prophets and messengers that came before him. He purified the previous messages
from adulteration and completed the Message of God for all humanity. He was
entrusted with the power of explaining, interpreting and living the teachings of
the Qur'an."

Believers must recognize that
Joseph Smith (Mormonism), Charles T. Russell (Jehovah's Witnesses), Mary Baker
Eddy (Christian Science), and Ellen G. White (Seventh Day Adventism) have all
claimed that same transcendent authority. And along with these, Muhammad was the
bearer of wicked doctrines that have plunged many into the outer darkness of
eternal torment.

Among the insidious doctrines
of Islam is the rejection of the doctrine of imputation. "Introducing Islamto Non-Muslims" explains, "Muslims believe that people are born free of sin.
It is only after they reach the age of puberty, and it is only after they commit
sins that they are to be charged for their mistakes. No one is responsible for
or can take the responsibility for the sins of others."

First, this is a denial of the
Biblical teaching that all mankind sinned in Adam, that is, Adam's sin has been
imputed to the whole human race (Rom. 5.12-14). Second, this is a denial of the
Biblical teaching that the sin of man is imputed to Christ, that is, Christ
became sin for us on Calvary's Cross (2 Cor. 5:21). Third, this is a denial of
the Biblical teaching that the righteousness of God is imputed to men upon
believing, that is, believers possess the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21;Rom.
5:15-19).By denying these truths which are fundamental to the Gospel of
salvation by grace through faith alone, Islam has laid the groundwork for a
"gospel" of self righteousness and salvation by works.

The Bible teaches that
salvation is NOT a reward. Heaven is the eternal abode of those who have
received Christ the Saviour. Islam teaches that salvation is indeed a reward for
a life of relative piety and righteousness. The Qur'an states, "Then those whose
scales are heavy, they are successful. And those whose scales are light are
those who lose their souls…" In fact, Muslims are encouraged to "vie with one
another to attain to your Sustainer's forgiveness and to a Paradise as vast as
the heavens and the earth, which awaits the God-conscious, who spend for charity
in time of plenty and in time of hardship, and restrain their anger, and pardon
their fellow men, for God loves those who do good."

From these denials of
fundamental Biblical teachings and the establishment of a religion of self
righteousness follows the Islamic repudiation of the Saviour. The following is
so important to Islam that it was printed in very bold type in the leaflet
"Prophethood in Islam"--"The Quranic account of Jesus emphatically rejects the
concept of his 'Divinity' and 'Divine Sonship…" The Institute of Islamic
Information and education publishes a leaflet entitled "Is Jesus Really God?" In
it they totally reject the Biblical teaching that Jesus is God manifest in the
flesh.

Nevertheless, the Word is
plain: "Godwasmanifest intheflesh" (1
Tim. 3:16). Jesus is the self existent I AM (Jn. 8:58). The Creator dwelled
as a man among men (Jn. 1:1-3, 14). Jesus Christ is the Forgiver of sin (Lk.
5.20-21). In short, the Son and the Father are one (Jn. 10:30). The Lord Jesus
Christ said to the religious of His day who rejected His deity, :... if ye
believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins"(Jn.
8:24).

Islam unashamedly rejects these
truths which comprise the Gospel. While many people today say that Christians
and Muslims worship the "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the
doctrine of Christ, HATH NOT GOD" (2 Jn.9). An even greater condemnation
is pronounced by God in verse seven. Denying the doctrine of Christ reveals
Islam as a deception and an antichrist religion. The Qur'an has substituted
false doctrines which present another gospel. Islam purports to be "the way of
peace," but the end of Islam is the way of death. Bible-believers must not yield
these eternally important points merely because Islam claims to esteem the
patriarchs and the prophets. It is our responsibility to testify to the Truth,
even as we cry out against the error of any false religion.

It is important for God's
people to be aware of the fact that many so-called Christians are willing to
compromise the Truth of God's Word in the interest of building bridges with
various religions. Islam seems to be asserting itself in the area of religious
dialogue, and men and women who claim to represent Christianity are quickly
building the credibility of Islam as a true religion. Instead of witnessing,
Christians are encouraged to discover common ground with Muslims. Rather than
exposing its errors, Christians are told to search for the truth in Islam. Thus,
Islam is gaining a respectability that is simply not
deserved.

While "Christians" are
manifesting their "open mindedness," Muslims aye spreading their false religious
propaganda under the cover of dialogue. Muslims believe that all mankind must be
brought into subjection to the spurious teachings of the Qur'an in order to
experience peace and blessing. They will not compromise that belief. Muslims
believe that the doctrine of the Incarnation of God is blasphemy. They will not
compromise that belief. Muslims believe that Muhammad is the prophet who fully
revealed the final truth. They will not compromise that belief. Muslims are
"devoted to their ideals,... and uncompromising with falsehood" ("Moral System
of Islam"). Only the glorious, liberating light of the one true Gospel will be
able to break through such darkness.

Although those who practice
Islam profess "to respect all those who are faithful and God conscious people,"
it is their contention that the one true religion is Islam. Muslims trace the
"true religion" from Abraham through Ishmael, but the Bible absolutely
contradicts this notion. Genesis 17:15-21 makesit clear that God
rejected Ishmael, con6rming the covenant blessings--including the
fulfillment of the true religion to Isaac alone. In chapter 21 Hagar and Ishmael
are cast out of Abraham's house with the sanction of God, "Let it not be
grievous in thy sight"(v. 12).

Galatians chapter three deals
with this subject of the true religion and directly references the events of
Genesis 17 and 2 1. Galatians 3:8 says, "And the scripture, farseeing that God
would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto
Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed."The promise of
salvation for Jew and Gentile was prophesied to come through the seed of
Abraham. Verse 16 clearly relates the true religion, the only Gospel, to the
promise made to Abraham in Genesis 17:15-21: "Now to Abraham and his seed were
the promises made. [God] saith not, And to seeds, as of many, but as of one, And
to thy seed, which is Christ."The Gospel preached to Abraham was the
Gospel of Christ delivered through Isaac, not the gospel of Islam delivered
through Ishmael.

Islam claims to be a religion
of peace and tolerance. It is, in fact, characterized by instability and
religious bigotry. It is our duty to stand for theGospel and against all
other gospels. Islam has rejected the essential teachings of the Word of God.
The "prophet" Muhammad brought a message from a false spirit that totally
opposes the Gospel of grace. The message of Islam is a curse, not a
blessing.

Islam is being
presented as a practical, modern religion though it holds its adherents in
spiritual bondage. Christians must be diligent to witness to-not dialogue with
Muslims. This is God's way of presenting the glorious light of the Gospel. There
is only one true religion. It was prophesied in the Garden of Eden, typified in
the days of Noah, confirmed to Abraham and Isaac, and realized in Jesus
Christ.